System allowing user associating user off-line status messages of selectable content with participants on user&#39;s authorized access lists

ABSTRACT

A method and implementing instant messaging processing system are provided which include means by which a user is enabled to input certain selective details concerning the user&#39;s off-line status. Such user selections are stored by an IM server and subsequently made available to other IM users when such other IM users log-on to the IM application. User selections include a listing of common reasons why a user is not available and means are provided for the user to select specific applicable details concerning the user&#39;s off-line status. A user is also enabled to input custom text messages to selectively provide even more specific detail to other users of the IM application concerning the user&#39;s off-line status. Means are further provided to enable a user to input more than one custom off-line message and also to indicate the timing of each message and when each message shall be made available to other IM users. A user is also enabled to selectively designate certain individuals to whom access to predetermined messages is made available during the off-line status of the IM user such that access to one off-line message is made available to selected IM participants but not to all IM participants.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

Subject matter disclosed but not claimed herein is disclosed and claimedin co-pending related applications 10/411,416 and 10/411,468.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to information processingsystems and more particularly to a methodology and implementation forenabling improved processing functionality within instant messagingsystems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The existence and continued acceptance and use of the World Wide Web andthe Internet have resulted in many new and useful applications becomingavailable to users of the Internet. One such application which isgrowing in popularity is known as “instant messaging” or “IM”. VariousIM applications are provided from many sources but all such applicationshave many common features.

In general, IM applications enable a user to register with an IM serveron the World Wide Web or other network using the Internet. Suchapplications may also be accessed through other local area and wide areanetworks as well. When a user accesses an IM application, the userinputs the user's personal information together with a useridentification (ID) and a password. The user is then enabled todesignate a user name which the user will use to identify himself orherself in subsequent “chat” sessions or in sending messages to andreceiving messages from other users.

Instant messaging has become an important part of both personal andbusiness communications. Millions of users communicate using instantmessaging systems every day, and as such, functionality and usabilityenhancements are important to the continued success of thiscommunication tool. Instant messaging applications do, however, haveserious flaws and/or shortcomings which must be corrected if they are tocontinue to thrive as a communications vehicle.

For example, with current applications, when a user exits the programand goes off-line, only a brief reference is available to other on-lineparticipants to indicate the on-line status of the departing user. Inmany instances, when “buddies” (i.e. individuals identified anddesignated by a user to be included on the user's “buddy list”) of auser log-on to an IM application, they can determine only that the “Useris Off-Line”, or “Unavailable”. These perfunctory announcements aregenerated by an IM server and are typically automatically provided andaccessible to all when a user logs-off from an IM application

Thus, there is a need for an improved methodology and system forenabling improved instant message processing in electronic communicationsystems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an instantmessaging system including means by which a user is enabled to inputcertain selected details concerning the user's off-line status. Suchuser selections are stored by an IM server and subsequently madeavailable to other IM users when such other IM users log-on to the IMapplication. Means are provided to enable a user to input more than onecustom off-line message and also to indicate the timing of each messageand when each message shall be made available to other IM users.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be obtained when thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment is consideredin conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a system which may be used inan exemplary implementation of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating several of the majorcomponents of an exemplary user terminal connected within an InstantMessaging system;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a display screen which may be used toenable user selection of several user preferences in an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a display screen which enables a user toselect one of several optional operational enhancements in an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a display screen which enables a user toselect one or more features related to the disclosed exemplary system;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a display screen which enables a user toselect one or more additional features related to the disclosedexemplary system;

FIG. 7 is an initial flow chart useful in explaining the operation of anexemplary embodiment of the disclosed system;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustration of an exemplary implementation ofthe disclosed system and related methodology;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustration of an overall operation of anexemplary implementation of the disclosed system and methodology;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary IM serverdatabase which may be implemented in relation to the present invention;and

FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustration showing an exemplary sequence ofevents when a participant logs-on to an IM application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is noted that circuits and devices which are shown in block form inthe drawings are generally known to those skilled in the art, and arenot specified to any greater extent than that considered necessary asillustrated, for the understanding and appreciation of the underlyingconcepts of the present invention and in order not to obfuscate ordistract from the teachings of the present invention.

The various methods discussed herein may be implemented within anycommunication device capable of receiving and transmitting signalsutilized in instant messaging applications and/or chat sessions, overany inter-connection network, including but not limited to the Internetand the World Wide Web. In the present disclosure such devices include,but are not limited to, cellular and other wireless devices, personaldigital assistant devices, laptop and personal computers and also desktop computers connected in local area or wide area networks. The presentdiscussion will be directed to a server-based instant messaging and/orchat application although it is understood that the principles involvedin the present invention may be applied, inter alia, to all of the abovenoted receiving and transmitting devices and systems.

In FIG. 1 there is shown an exemplary system in which the presentinvention may be implemented. The illustration shows several userterminals 109, 111, 113, 115 and 117 which may be interconnected withseveral instant messaging servers 101, 103 and 105 through aninterconnection network 107 such as the Internet. The servers includeinstant messaging and chat session applications and the individualusers' terminals also include chat session and instant messagingprogramming to enable the users to “chat” or send instant messages toeach other by exchanging communications between servers over theinterconnection network 107. As noted above, the user terminals can be adesktop personal computer (PC) or any information processing device,such as a cellular phone or personal digital assistant device, which maybe connected as shown in FIG. 1 through a hard-wired or wireless systemarrangement.

Several of the major components of the device 101 are illustrated inFIG. 2. A processor circuit 201 is connected to a system bus 203. It isnoted that the processing methodology disclosed herein will apply tomany different bus and/or network configurations and is not limited tothe configuration of the present example. A cache memory device 205 anda system memory unit 207 are also connected to the bus 203. Theexemplary system also includes a system storage devices 209. The systembus 203 is also connected through an input interface circuit 211 to akeypad or keyboard 213 as well as alternate input devices 215 which mayinclude voice and/or stylus input devices. The bus 203 is also coupledto a transmitter/receiver section 217 which enables the receipt andtransmission of digital information. The illustrated system may also becoupled to a network system through the transmitter/receiver section217. The exemplary system also includes a sound subsystem 224. Inputmeans such as a microphone 226 and output means such as speaker 225 mayalso be included to enable a user to communicate with the device usingvoice commands and voiced menu and message playbacks. A video subsystem227, which may include a graphics subsystem, is connected between thebus 203 and a display device 228.

Typically in an instant messaging session, a user logs on to the systemand selects an instant messaging application. A so-called “buddy list”is created by a user and comprises a list of IM users which a singleuser may identify as his or her “buddies”. In the instant messagingapplication, when a user logs-on to the system, the user is thenimmediately notified as to which of the individuals on the user's buddylist are currently logged-on to the application and able to receiveinstant messages.

As hereinbefore noted, when the user logs-off the application, typicallythe IM server automatically generates a “not available” or similarmessage which will appear to all participants who are logged-on or whothereafter log-on and who have the user on their respective buddy list.

In the present example, as shown in FIG. 3, when a user logs-off the IMapplication, an Off-Line Status Message screen 301 is displayed to theuser and the user is enabled to make selections from the screen using apointing device 325 regarding the off-line status of the user. Theuser's selections are then stored at the IM server and made available inaccordance with the user's selections to other IM users. The exemplarydisplay screen 301 enables a user to select a standard message from alisting of selectable off-line status messages 303. If the user wishesto select from a listing of standard off-line messages, the user isenable to place a marker such as a “X” in the appropriate box 305 usingthe pointer 325 and keyboard 213 and then pointing to the “DONE” box323. The selection process may also be accomplished using othertechniques such as hypertext selections where the user need only pointand click on the hypertext selection 303 and a screen or pop-up window(not shown) containing possible standard message selections would bedisplayed to the user for further selection. The standard selectionswould include messages such as “NOT AVAILABLE”, “ON VACATION”, “INTRANSIT FOR INDEFINITE PERIOD”, or other massage that does not requireand further user input except to select the standard message and exitthe application. Further details regarding the standard messageselection process are considered unnecessary and are not presented inany greater detail.

If the user wishes to provide further information regarding the user'sunavailability for other IM users, the user is enabled to select one ormore of the other blocks shown in FIG. 3 before logging-off the IMapplication. For example, the user may select block 311 to indicate thatthe user is “IN TRANSIT” 307 and the user is further enabled to providea phone number or cell phone number in block 309 at which the user maybe reached while in transit. Similarly, the user by selecting block 317is enabled to indicate that the user is “ON VACATION” 313 and the usermay input the applicable dates in block 315. Also, if the user wishes tocreate a custom message or provide a listing of users who would beauthorized to access the user's messages 319, the user may so indicateby marking box 321. When the user has completed making his or herselections from the off-line status message screen 301, the user isenabled to select the “DONE” block 323 to continue. The user may alsocancel at any time by selecting the “CANCEL” block 327. In the eventblocks 311 or 317 are selected, the entered data is saved to an IMserver database and made available to other IM users as appropriate. Ifthe user selects block 321 to create a custom message, a “CREATE MESSAGEAND AUTHORIZED ACCESS SCREEN” 401 is displayed to the user in thepresent example for further user input.

As shown in FIG. 4, the “Create Message” screen 401 enables a user tocreate one or more custom messages. The user may create a first custommessage by marking block 407 to create message “A” 403 and entering thetext of the custom message in the corresponding block 405. Similarly,the user may create a second custom message by marking block 413 tocreate message “B” 409 and entering the text of the second custommessage in the corresponding block 411. Further custom messages 415 mayalso be created by checking block 417 which, in one example, would causea pop-up window to appear (not shown) to enable further text input andcustom messages from the user in a manner similar to that shown formessages A and B.

The CREATE MESSAGE screen 401 also enables the user to input the user'stiming requirements 419 for the created messages such that certain onesof the messages will be accessible by other IM users only during thetimes specified by the user for the corresponding message. For example,in the present example, for message A 421, the user may fill in a datablock 423 to indicate accessible times and dates for message A andchecking the message A timing block 433. The user is enabled to inputthe exact times 425, 429 and dates 427, 431 that message A will be madeavailable. Similarly, for message B 435, the user may fill in a datablock 437 to indicate accessible times and dates for message B andchecking the message B timing block 439. The user may also cancel theoperation at any time by checking the CANCEL block 433. If the user doesnot wish to create an Authorized Access List, the user may check theDONE block 445 with pointer 447 after inputting the user's timingrequirements and the timing information as well as the custom messageswill be stored at the IM server off-line message database for access byother IM users.

If the user wishes to Create an Authorized Access List 442, the user isenabled to select block 441 for further user input as shown in FIG. 5.When the user selects block 441 in the present example, to create anauthorized access list to the created messages, an authorized accessselection screen 501 is displayed to the user. As shown, the user isenabled to designate that only designated authorized users specified bythe user may have access to corresponding messages. For example, if theuser wishes to designate which individuals will have access to message A505, the user is checks block 503 in FIG. 5. The user may then check theappropriate block to make message A available to all 507 on the usersbuddy list or to make message A available to only individuals selectedby the user 509. Similarly, with regard to message B 511, the user maycheck the appropriate block to make message B available to all 515 onthe users buddy list or to make message B available to only individualsselected by the user 517. If the user wants to give access to only aselected few with regard to either message, a pop-up window 518,containing a listing of individuals from which to choose, will bedisplayed to the user. Also, the user may select to authorize emergencyaccess 521 by checking block 519. The emergency access protocol would bean agreed-upon predetermined process by which an individual who wouldneed to contact the user would be directed to obtain access to an IMserver administrator, for example, to determine an emergency phonenumber for the user. The user may cancel at any time by checking block525 or indicate that the user has finished making selections by checkingthe DONE block 523.

If the user has chosen to designate only selected individuals to haveaccess to either message, a Select Authorized Access pop-up screen 518will be displayed to the user to enable the user to select whichindividuals will have access to which messages. In the present example,the user has chosen to designate selected individuals to have access tomessage B. The screen 518 in the present example will include the namesof individuals on the user's buddy list and the user is enable to choosewhich of those individuals will have access to the user's createdoff-line status message B. In the example, since no selection was madefor message A, message A will be available for all those on the usersbuddy list by default. As shown in FIG. 6, the user has designated onlyJoe 605 by checking block 603 and Nancy 611 by checking block 613 tohave access to the user's off-line status message B. Thus Mike 609 willnot have access to message B will may be shown a default off-line statusmessage instead depending upon specific system design. The user maycheck CANCEL 617 at any time or check the DONE block 615 to indicatethat the user is finished making selections from the screen 518.

As shown in FIG. 7, the selection processing begins with the display 701of the off-line status message screen 301. The processing ends if theuser selects 703 the CANCEL block 327 but continues to block 801 if theuser selects 705 the DONE block 323. When the DONE block 323 isselected, the system checks to determine which selections the user hasmade and proceeds to implement the user's selections.

As shown in FIG. 8, if the user has selected to use a standard off-linestatus message 803, a listing of standard messages is displayed 805 andthe user is enabled to select which standard message the user wishes tobe accessible to individuals on the user's buddy list. Once theselection is made 807, the selection is saved at the IM server database809 and displayed to other users when other users on the user's buddylist log-on to the IM application.

If the user has selected 811 an “In Transit” message 307 from FIG. 3,then after selecting DONE 323, the phone input block is checked forphone number data 813 and if no phone number has been inserted into thephone number block 309 then the user is prompted to insert the phonenumber where the user can be reached while in transit. Once the phonenumber has been input, the message along with the phone number is savedat the IM server database 817 and the process is ended.

If the user had selected 819 the “Vacation” message 313, then thevacation data block 315 is checked 821 for vacation data, and if novacation data has been inserted into the vacation data block 315 thenthe user is prompted 823 to insert the vacation data , i.e. the datesand times as applicable. Once the vacation data has been input, theVacation message along with the corresponding data are saved at the IMserver database 821 and the process is ended.

If the user had selected to create a message 827 (319 in Figure), then,after selecting DONE 323, the processing continues to block 901 as shownin FIG. 9. The application will then check 903 for user input in themessage A field 405. If the user had created 903 a first message orMessage A in the example, the message is saved 905 to the IM serverdatabase, and a check is made to determine if the user had input anytiming requirements 907 for message A. If such timing requirements wereinput by the user, the timing data are saved 909 to the IM serverdatabase and a check is made to determine if the user input anyauthorized access requirements 911 for message A. If the user hadidentified buddies who would have authorized access 911, then thoseidentified by the user to have authorized access to off-line statusmessage A would be saved to the IM server database 913. Next, a check ismade to determine if there are any additional messages 915. This datagathering process would be repeated 917 for other messages until alldata associated with all created off-line messages had been saved to theIM server database. The user-input messages, timing and authorized userdata would then be made available to other users who log-on to the IMserver in accordance with the user's input.

FIG. 10 illustrates a portion of an exemplary database 901 which may bemaintained at the IM server to keep track of user input by all users whomay log-on to the server-based IM application. As shown, user data arestored in columns corresponding to the individual users, e.g. David, Sueand John 903. Data rows keep track of similar data for each user. Forexample, a first row 905 contains message A inputs from each user David,Sue and John. Similarly, the next row 907 tracks timing for message Afor each user, and the next rows 911 and 913 keep track of authorizedaccess and emergency access for message A of each user. Similar data arestored for message B 915 of each user and also for additional messages.As the stored data expire by timing requirements or are replaced by therespective user, the database is updated to maintain currentinformation.

In FIG. 11, a log-on sequence begins 1101 by detecting when a newparticipant logs-on 1103 to the exemplary IM application. The authorizedaccess (AA) lists in the server database are then checked 1105 to see ifthe new participant is included in a user's AA list. If the newlylogged-on participant is not in one of the user's AA lists 1107, thenthe standard IM processing is executed 1109. If, however, the newparticipant is on the user's AA list 1107, then a check is made todetermine if the user is currently off-line 1111. Steps 1107 and 1111can occur in any order. If the user is currently on-line 1111 then theflow returns to the standard IM processing 1109. If, however, the useris currently off-line 1111, then the user's off-line status message iscaused to be displayed to the new participant 1113 and the process thencontinues with the IM application flow 1115.

The method and apparatus of the present invention has been described inconnection with a preferred embodiment as disclosed herein. Thedisclosed methodology may be implemented in a wide range of sequences,menus and screen designs to accomplish the desired results as hereinillustrated. Although an embodiment of the present invention has beenshown and described in detail herein, along with certain variantsthereof, many other varied embodiments that incorporate the teachings ofthe invention may be easily constructed by those skilled in the art, andeven included or integrated into a processor or CPU or other largersystem integrated circuit or chip. The disclosed methodology may also beimplemented solely or partially in program code stored in a portable orfixed memory device, such as so-called “Flash” memory, from which it maybe loaded into other memory devices and executed to achieve thebeneficial results as described herein. Accordingly, the presentinvention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forthherein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives,modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within thespirit and scope of the invention.

1. A method for enabling user control of user's off-line status messagesavailable for display to other participants in a messaging applicationwhen said user is logged-off from said messaging application, saidmethod comprising: enabling user timing input to establish times duringwhich said user's off-line status messages are available for display tosaid other participants; saving said timing input for subsequent accessin association with a communication of said user off-line statusmessages; enabling said user to input different selected times for eachof a plurality of said user's off-line status messages; displaying anoff-line message selection menu to said user, said off-line messageselection menu containing a plurality of user off-line status messagesof selectable content; enabling said user to select at least one of saiduser off-line status messages, and associating said user selectedoff-line status message with a corresponding user timing input.
 2. Themethod as set forth in claim 1 and further including saving said usertiming input at a messaging server, said messaging server being arrangedfor connecting said user to said other participants.
 3. The method asset forth in claim 1 wherein one of said selectable content messagescomprises a plurality of selectable fixed content messages, said userbeing enabled to select from said plurality of fixed content messages.4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said selectablecontent messages comprises a plurality of user input message types, saiduser input message types including means for enabling user input of textcontent to said user input message types.
 5. A storage medium includingmachine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectivelycoupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectivelycoupled to processing circuitry within a computer system, said readingdevice being selectively operable to read said machine readable codedindicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said programsignals being effective for enabling user control of user's off-linestatus messages available for display to other participants in amessaging application when said user is logged-off from said messagingapplication, said program signals being further effective for; enablinguser timing input to establish times during which said user's off-linestatus messages are available for display to said other participants;saving said timing input for subsequent access in association with acommunication of said user off-line status messages; enabling said userto input different selected times for each of a plurality of said user'soff-line status messages; displaying an off-line message selection menuto said user, said off-line message selection menu containing aplurality of user off-line status messages of selectable content;enabling said user to select at least one of said user off-line statusmessages; and associating said user selected off-line status messagewith a corresponding user timing input.
 6. The medium as set forth inclaim 5 wherein said program signals are further effective for: savingsaid user timing input at a messaging server, said messaging serverbeing arranged for connecting said user to said other participants. 7.The medium as set forth in claim 5 wherein one of said selectablecontent messages comprises a plurality of selectable fixed contentmessages, said user being enabled to select from said plurality of fixedcontent messages.
 8. The medium as set forth in claim 5 wherein one ofsaid selectable content messages comprises a plurality of user inputmessage types, said user input message types including means forenabling user input of text content to said user input message types. 9.A system for enabling user control of user's off-line status messagesavailable for display to other participants in a messaging applicationwhen said user is logged-off from said messaging application, saidsystem comprising: a messaging server; a plurality of terminals, saidterminals and said messaging server being coupled together through aninterconnection network, each of said terminals including a displaydevice and a user input device, each of said terminals being selectivelyoperable for enabling user timing input to establish times during whichsaid user's off-line status messages are available for display to saidother participants, said system being further selectively operable forsaving said timing input for subsequent access in association with acommunication of said user off-line status messages, said system furtherincluding means for enabling said user to input different selected timesfor each of a plurality of said user's off-line status messages, saidsystem being further operable for displaying an off-line messageselection menu to said user on a display device, said off-line messageselection menu containing a plurality of user off-line status messagesof selectable content, said system being further operable for enablingsaid user to select at least one of said user off-line status messages;and associating said user selected off-line status message with acorresponding user timing input.
 10. The system as set forth in claim 9wherein said system further includes means for saving said user timinginput at said messaging server.
 11. The system as set forth in claim 9wherein one of said selectable content messages comprises a plurality ofselectable fixed content messages, said user being enabled to selectfrom said plurality of fixed content messages.
 12. The system as setforth in claim 9 wherein one of said selectable content messagescomprises a plurality of user input message types, said user inputmessage types including means for enabling user input of text content tosaid user input message types.